Machine for applying legends to safety razor blades



J y 1950 Y s. BIODKIN 2,515,854

MACHINE FOR APPLYING LEGENDS To SAFETY RAZOR BLADES Filed oct. 2'1, 1943 W L? l '57 .70 48 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVEA I TOR. B [rt/171g Jim/m1 WMWM I. s. BODKIN July 18, 1950 MACHINE FOR APPLYING LEGENDS TO SAFETY RAZOR BLADES Filed 001:. 27, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H7 TORNEY INVENTOR. mm? (51 Em/rm July .18, 1950 I |.-s. BODKIN MACHINE FOR APPLYING LEGENDS TO SAFETY RAZOR BLADES Filed Oct. 27, 1943 3' Sheets-Sheet 3 l ll ll."

Zi i

HTTOIPNEY .finished blade.

Patented July 18, 1950 MACHINE FOR APPLYINGLEGENDS TO SAFETY RAZOR BLADES Irving S. Bodkin, New York, N. Y., assignor to *Gonrad'Razor Blade 00., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application October 27, 1943, Serial No. 508',094

13 Claims.

The present invention relates to printing and etching and more particularly to a machine for applying a legend "or design to safety razor'blades although it may be utilized for other purposes.

Razor blades are manufactured from rolls of metal. The metal has a width corresponding to the width of the razor blade to be manufactured. The strip or ribbon of metal in the form of a roll may be fed into a machine from a roll on one side and may be formed into a roll at the "discharge endof the machine. In this .way the roll of metal may be subjected to various operations and finally the edges of the strip are ground and the strip is stamped into blade lengths forming individual safety razor blades which are then inspected and wrapped. The manufacturer usually desires to have his name or trade-mark .or some legend or design on the This .is ordinarily done by applying an acid to the blade which .etches the legend or design thereon.

The present invention aims to provide :asimple, efiective and efiicient machine for applying acids and similar etching or printingmaterials to razor blades and like articles.

An object of the present invention is .to provide an improved machine for applying etching materials to razor blades.

Another object of the invention is toprovide a less expensive and more effective machine for applying legends or design; to razor blades.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the application of legends and designs to razor blades.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention.

A preferred embodiment of the invention .has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forming a part' of the specification, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of apreierred embodiment of the machine;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view .of the machine;

. r 2 Fig. 3 is a sectional view alongthe line 3-3 of Fig. 1 illustrating features of the legend applying machanism; i

Fig. 4 is a sectional view corresponding to Fig. 3 with .the legend applying mechanism in engagement with the strip of metal for applying a legend;

Fig. '5 isan exploded view of the acid supply mechanism; i

Fig. 6 is azsectional view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; and 1 Fig. 7 is a sectional view along the line '1--1 of Fig. 1 illustrating features of the mechanism for advancing the metal strip. l

Described generally and with particular reference to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the machine comprises a guideway I for holding and guiding a strip of metal '2 to which legends are to heapplied and which will later be formed into'safety razor blades. A reciprocating carriage 4 has a member Ezresiliently mounted thereon for advancing the strip stepsby. step. A pair of ap- ,plicators I, having a suitable design or legend thereon, are pivotally mounted-about pins 8 (Figs. 1,3 and '4) and are'reciprocated towardand-from the strip of metal 2 by pivoted levers 9, operated by cams w :on drive shaft I I. During the retracting strokes the applicator-s I are oscillated into engagement with pads 12- ,(Figs. '3) supplied with acid M :fromreservoirs 1.5. The applicators .l are brought into contact with. the metal strip 2 during the period intermediate the advancing operations and while the strip isstationaryc The several parts of the machine will now'be described in more detail.

The guideway I ,(Figs. 1,3, 4 and '7) comprises a channeled member. Ii6 with shoulders I3 adapted to engageandsupportthesidesof the strip 2 adjacent thexedges thereof- The members I! are secured -:to the legs of-the channel member to hold the strip in position on the shoulders and to form a guideway for the strip .of metal. Suitable guides sit at the .center 10f the channel may be rovided for supporting :the middle of the strip to facilitate the eoperationi-of the advancing means which will be described later. The channel :member 16 may be secured to theframe -l;9.o.f the machine by a'bracket .20. The portion of :the guideway on the opposite side of the frame t9 oi the ,machine mavcqmcarriage.

prise a member 2| having a recess 22 with grooves 24 at the upper and lower sides thereof for receiving the edges of the metal strip. Brackets 25 may support member 2| on the supporting frame I9. It will be noted that the guideway for the strip extends past the applicators 1 and the carriage 4 forming a part of the advancing mechanism.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 7 the channel member I6 has a member 26 bolted to its lower side and extending outwardly laterany of the channel member I6. A bar 21 is secured to the laterally extended part of the member 26 by screws 28. The carriage 4 is slidably mounted on the bar 21 by means of a channeled member 29 having surfaces engaging the upper and lower edges of the bar 21. Flange members 30 are secured to the channeled member 29 by screws 3I and extend over the edges of the bar 21 to hold the carriage in position thereon.

The advancing member is pivotally mounted on a pin 32 (Figs. 1 and 7) at one end of the carriage and is held against a stop 34 by means ofa leaf spring 35. As the-carriage reciprocates back and forth the end of the resiliently mounted member 5 engages a slot or a perforation 33 in the strip 2 and advances the strip a predetermined distance, preferably the length of a blade or the .length of a. plurality of blades.

In the preferred embodiment the strip is advanced the length of two blades during each forward movement of the On the return movement of the carscrews 56 and 59 may be utilized for changing the relative position of the members 45 and 55 to increase or decrease the amount of pressure applied by the applicator 1 to the strip of metal.

The ends of pin 8 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) are held in position by the arms 60 of bracket 6| which is secured to the end of the member 45 by screws 62. A holder 64 is mounted on the ends of pin 8 and has a member 65 secured thereto by dove-tail joints 66. The applicator pad 1 is secured to the member 65 by an adhesive or inany other suitable manner. A- coiled spring 61 extending about the pin 8, tends to retain the applicator 65 in the position shown in Fig. 4. As the slidable member 45, with the applicator thereon, is reciprocated into its retracted position a projection 69 on the applicator holder 64 engages a. cam surface 10 .on the member 1I projecting from bracket 12 secured to the stationary part of the machine by riage the mounted member 5 acts as an idle pawl,

being pushed back about its pivot 32 in opposition to the spring 35 by riding over the sides of the slots 33 in the strip without moving the strip in the opposite direction; in other words, the resiliently mounted member 5 engages the slots in the metal strip 2 to advance the strip in a, step by vstep movement.

Any suitable means may be utilized for reciprocating the carriage 4 on the bar 21. As illustrated herein, an eccentric 36 is mounted on the drive shaft I I and has a collar 31 with an extension 38 secured to a lever 39 pivoted at one end to a brack- .et 49 on the framework of the machine and connected at its other end to a link 4I attached to the carriage 4 by a bolt 42. As the drive shaft I I rotates, the eccentric 36 thereon oscillates the lever 39 about its pivot 40 to reciprocate the carriage 4 and to advance the strip of metal through the machine.

Legends are applied to both sides of the strip 2 by identical mechanisms on the respective sides thereof. Hence, a description of one of the mechanisms will serve for both/ A member (Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6) is slidably held in a channel of the member 46 by members 41 which are held in position by screws 48 and which extend over the edges of themember 45. The member 45 is reciprocated by means of a lever 9 pivoted at 49 to a bracket 59 secured to the frame I9 of the machine. One end of the lever 9 has a cam roller 5| operatively engaging the cam III on a drive shaft I I; the other end of the lever has a slot 52 engaging the upper end of a member 54 threaded into an adjustable member 55. The member 55 is secured to the slidable member 45 by means of a bolt 56 extending through a slot 51 in member 55 and threaded into the member 45. The member 55 has a downwardly extended part 58 at its protruding end with an adjustment screw 59 extending through it and threaded into an aperture in the end of the member 45. The adjustment bolts 14 extending through slots, which permit adjustment of the parts. As the projection 69 moves along the cam surface 10 the holder 64 and the applicator 1 oscillate from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 3. In extended position the applicator 1 is in engagement with the strip of metal 2 and in retracted position it is in engagement with a pad I2 for replenishing the acid on it.

It will be seen that the reciprocation of the member 45 by means of the cam I0 and lever 9 presents the applicator 1 to the strip of metal 2 for applying a legend thereon while the strip is stationary and the applicator is thereafter retracted to permit movement of the strip and while retracted engages a pad for an additional supply of acid or other legend forming material.

A preferred mechanism for supplying acid to the applicator 1 is shown more particularly in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5. A reservoir I5 is provided with projections 16 operatively secured to the arms of the bracket 11 keyed to a shaft 18. An arm 19 is fixed to one end of the shaft with a cam roller thereon in engagement with the member 8| on cam II). The cam II] engages the cam roller 80 during each revolution to raise the reservoir I5 and the parts thereof. The pad I2 may comprise a wick 82 extending down into the acid I4 in the reservoir. The wick may be held in position by means of a member 84 fitting over the open end of the reservoir and having slots or recesses 85 through which the wick may pass. Bars 86 may fit into the recesses to hold the wick in position. A suitable member 81 may fit into the channel of member 84 for supporting the portion of the wick extending thereover. In this way the acid travels up the end of the wick by capillary action and maintains a moist pad for engagement with the applicator 1. It will be noted that, when the applicator is in the position shown in Fig. 3, the cam 10 is effective on cam roller 80 to raise the reservoir I5 for supplying acid to the applicator. In this way there is no rubbing action between the applicator and the pad and an effective application is obtained.

Any suitable drive may be provided for the drive shaft II, for example, a pulley 88 mounted on one end thereof may be driven by a suitable belt. The opposite end of the drive shaft I I may have a hand wheel 89 for manual operation during the adjustment of the various parts. The shaft II may be mounted on brackets 99 secured to the framework of the machine.

In the operation of the machine the eccentric 36 on drive shaft I I reciprocates carriage 14 to ad-- Vance. the strip 2 intermittently by means of a resiliently mounted member Swhich is effective to move the strip in one direction and ineffective to move it in the opposite direction. While the Strip 2 is stationary the eamsJ-llefiective upon the levers ii at the opposite ends otthemaehine, reciprocate the members 4-5 inwardly toward the surface of the strip of metal 2. During this inward movement, the springs fi'l and cam surfaces ll] oscillate the applicators 1 about thepins -8 to present the surfaces thereof to the opposite sides of the strip 2 for applying acid or other similar material thereto. The pressure-of the applicator on the strip maybe adjusted as desired by means of the adjustment screws 56 and-58. Upon the return stroke of the members 45 under-influence of the spring 13 and cam ill the applicators 1 are rotated by the cam surfaces 1 0 engaging the projection 69 to the position shown in Fig. At this point the applicators areready to receive a further application of acid. The acid reservoirs 15 are then raised by meansof the members 8! on cams Ill engaging cam rollers "80 on arms #9 fixed to shafts it, which carries the bracket ll. Thus prior to each application of the applicators to the strip 2 the surfaces thereof are brought into engagement with the pad l2 for replenishing the supply of acid thereon.

It Will be seen that theinvention provides a simple inexpensive and eflicient means for applying designs or legends to articles such as razor blades. The partsare simple in construction, easy to operate and not likely toget out of order. A clear design is assured since the applicator pad is pressed against the stamp prior to each application thereof. There is no rubbing action between the pad and the stamp, thus minimizing wear. The applicator is applied to the metal strip while the latter is stationary and hence smearing is avoided and a sharp design issobtained. The legendsfiand designs are accurately registeredon the blades, since the -'r'netal strip is advanced and positioned by theblade slots. 'The machine is rugged in construction and fully capable of withstanding the rough usage-t0 which it ma be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the :parts herein without departing from 'the'scopeand spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be "understood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a, limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention I'claim:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination with means for advancing a stripof material adapted to be formed into razor blades, of a guideway comprising edge guides for the strip leaving the sides of the strip exposed 'a pair of members mounted on the respective sides ofsaid strip adjacent the guides, means to reciprocate said members toward and away from said strip, and means on said members for applying legends to the opposite sides of said strip, said means including applicators pivotally mounted on said members and cams for controlling the oscillating of said applicators about their pivots to present the effective surf-aces thereof to the substantially opposite sides of said strip when said members are moved toward the strip, moistenin devices,

and means for moving both the applicators and 6 said members are in retracted position with re=- spectto said strip. v

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway comprising spaced edge guides for "a strip of material adapted to be formed into razorblades, a carriage movable longitudinally of said guideway and including strip engaging means adapted to advance said strip step by step, movable members mounted on opposite sides "of said strip adjacent the spaced guides, means for reciprocating said movable members toward and away from said strip, means on said movable members for engaging opposite sides of thest-r-ip intermediate the-spaced guides and applying legends to the opposite sides of said strip during intervals while the strip is not being advanced.

-3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway comprising spaced edge guides for a strip of material adapted to be formed into razor blades, a carriage movable longitudinal ly of said guideway and having means to em gage with to advance said strip step bystep, movable members mounted on opposite sides of said strip in the vicinity of said guides, means for reciprocating said movable members toward and away from said strip and means on said movable members for applying legends to-exposed opposite sides of said strip between said guides when the strip is not advancing, said means, in cluding an applicator pivotally mounted on each of said members, and means for oscillating each of said applicators about its .pivot to present the effective surfaces thereof to the sides 'of said strip when moved toward the strip a moistening pad for each applicator located adjacent a retracted position thereof, and means to move the effective surfaces of each applicator toward its pad during intervals when the applicators are retracted.

4. In a device :of the class described, the combination "of a guideway comprising spaced edge guides for a metal strip adapted to be formed into safety razor blades, means 'for advancing said strip periodically along said gu idew-ay, inovalole members adjacent said zgnidesgineans for reciprocating said movable members toward and from said strip of material adapted to effect inrprinting of the strip during "ntervals when it is not advancing, applicators ca-i ed by 'said mov able members for applying-a i'egend to said strip, and vmeans for moistening the-eii'e'ctive surfaces of said applicators prior to engagement with said strip, including moistening surfaces and means for moving said moisteni-ngsur'f-aces into engage- Izgn'ent with the applicator-s on said movable memers.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a "g ui'deway having edge guides for holding a strip of material having perforations therein, a channeled back forming part of the guid'ewa'y, and adapted to "support the strip against side thrust, a cairi'a'ga means to mount said carriage -for movement adjacent said guideways, devices for reciprocating said carriage, means on said carriage for engaging the "strip at one side of a perforationaiid penetrating the perforation so as to be partly in the channel and effective for moving the strip inone direction and ineffective to move the strip in the other direction, and a further guidewa'y comprising edge guides for the strip leaving the sides of the v holding a strip of material having perforations therein, a channeled back forming part of the guideway, and adapted to support the strip against side thrust, a carriage, means to mount said carriage for movement adjacent said guideway, devices for reciprocating said carriage, a pawl resiliently mounted on said carriage for engaging the strip at one side of a perforation and penetrating the perforation so as to be partly in the channel, said pawl being effective for moving the strip in one direction and ineffective to move it in the opposite direction, and a further guideway comprising edge guides for the strip leaving the sides of the strip exposed to receive a marking device on both sides.

7. In a device of the class described the combination of a guideway having edge guides for holding a strip of perforated material, a runway for a carriage adjacent said guideway, a carriage mounted on said runway, devices for reciprocating said carriage, a channeled back forming part of the guideway and adapted to support the strip against side thrust, means mounted on said carriage for engaging said strip through a perforation and entering the channel and effective to move the strip in one direction at predetermined intervals and ineffective to move it in the opposite direction, a further guideway comprising edge guides for the strip leaving the sides of the strip exposed, and reciprocating means movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to the movement of said strip for applying a legend to both sides of said strip intermediate said further guideway during periods when the strip moving means is ineffective to move the strip in said opposite direction.

8. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway comprising edge guides for a strip of material adapted to form razor blades, a carriage, means to mount said carriage for movement adjacent to said guideway, devices for reciprocating said carriage, means mounted on said carriage for engaging said strip and moving it in One direction in a step by step movement, and means at said guides for applying a legend to both sides of said strip comprising a reciprocating member at each side of the strip and an applicator pivotally mounted thereon and adapted to be pressed against the strip during time intervals when the strip is not being moved by the strip engaging means and to be thereafter moved away from the strip.

9. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway having edge guides for a strip of material adapted to be formed into razor blades, a channeled back forming part of the guideway and adapted to support the strip against side thrust, a carriage, means to mount said carriage for movement adjacent to said guideway, devices for reciprocating said carriage, means mounted on said carriage for engaging perforations on said strip and entering the channel to move the strip in one direction in a step by step manner to provide periods of rest and movement, a further guideway comprising guides for the strip leaving the sides of the strip exposed, and means for applying a legend to both sides of said strip intermediate the edge guides of said further guideway including a member on each side of the strip movable in a direction substantially perpendicular to said strip in the vicinity of said further guideway, a pivotally mounted applicator thereon, and means for rotating said applicator to apply a legend forming material to the applicator in one position and to engage the strip in another position during periods when the strip is at rest.

10. In a device of the class described, the combination'of means for intermittently advancing a strip of material, a guideway comprising edge guides for the strip leaving the sides of the strip exposed, a movable member, means for reciprocating said member toward and away from said strip of material in timed relationship with respect to said intermittent advancement of the strip, an applicator pivotally mounted adjacent one end of the movable member, a material-applying jad, resilient means operatively associated with said applicator, and cam means stationary with respect to said movable member adapted to co-operate with said resilient means to move said applicator about its pivot to present the effective surface thereof to said strip of material adjacent said guides when reciprocated toward the strip of material and during intervals when the strip is not advancing and adapted to move the applicator about its pivot to present said effective surface toward the material-applying pad when in retracted position.

11. In a device of the class described including means for intermittently feeding a continuous metallic strip and means for applying a legend-forming material to the strip during periods while the strip is at rest, a reservoir disposed adjacent an imprinting position of the device, a length of fluid-conducting material having end portions thereof extending into said reservoir, backing means supporting a portion of said fluidconducting material above the surface of a fluid in said reservoir, and applicator means adapted to contact said length of fluid-conducting material above said backing means to receive fluid thereon and movable into contact with the side of said continuous metallic strip while the strip is at rest.

12. In a device of the class described including means for intermittently feeding a continuous metallic strip and means for applying a legend-forming material to the strip during periods while the strip is at rest, reservoirs disposed adjacent an imprinting position of the device, lengths of fluid-conducting material having end portions thereof extending into said reservoirs, backing means supporting portions of said fluid-conducting material in substantially horizontal positions above the surfaces of a fluid in said reservoirs, and a separate reciprocable applicator means adapted to contact said lengths of fluid-conducting material above said backing means upon retraction of the applicator means with respect to the strip and to receive fluid thereon and movable into contact with opposite sides of said continuous metallic strip while the strip is at rest.

13. In a device of the class described, the combination of a guideway comprising spaced edge guides for holding a continuous strip of material exposed on both sides, means for moving said strip through said guideway a predetermined distance at predetermined spaced time intervals, members mounted at opposite sides of the path of movement of said strip, means for reciprocating said members toward and away from said path, applicators pivotally mounted on the adjacent ends of said members, fluid-supplying devices positioned adjacent the path of movement of said applicators, and means responsive to reciprocating movement of the members for swinging sa'id' applicators into contact relationship with said devices during a portion of the movement of the members and for swinging them into facing relation with the sides of the strip for contact therewith during another portion of said movement while the strip is at rest.

IRVING S. BODKIN.

REFERENGES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

Number Number Name Date Gaisman et a1 May 24, 1932 W'loka Mar. 20, 1934 Wright Sept. 11, 1934 Ryan Jan. 15, 1935 Achauer Apr. 7, 1936 Bodkin June 28, 1938 DuBois July 18, 1939 Serai Feb. 25, 1941 Kohnle Mar. 9, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Jan. 18, 1934 

